Women's Basketball | 2/13/2011 12:17:06 AM
Box Score
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – Senior guard Kristen Ozbun’s game tying three-point attempt fell short, as the McPherson College women’s basketball team fell, 54-49, to Bethany College Saturday night at the McPherson Sport Center.
With the loss, McPherson dropped to 5-21 overall and 3-13 in league play, while Bethany improved to 6-20 overall and 4-12 in conference action. The defeat also puts the Bulldogs one game behind BC for the final spot in the KCAC tournament.
In the first half, McPherson trailed 11-6 before going nearly nine minutes without a field goal. Despite the drought, the Bulldogs trailed by only nine points, 19-10. MC quickly cut the deficit to three with back-to-back three-pointers from Brooke Weisenburger (Gardner, Kan.) and Kristen Ozbun (Rose Hill, Kan.) to make the score 16-19 with 35 seconds remaining in the opening period.
Each team would add another three-point basket, as the Swedes entered the break with a 22-19 halftime advantage.
McPherson struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 20.7 percent (6-of-29) from the field and was 3-of-6 from the free throw line. Ozbun accounted for nine of MC’s 19 first half points, all of which came on three-pointers.
The Bulldogs tied the game early in the second half on when Tori Verdieck (New Castle, Colo.) connected on one of two free throw attempts to make the score 22-22 with 18:28 left in regulation. Both teams would trade the lead over the next six minutes, before a 13-2 Bethany run gave the Swedes a 42-35 advantage with 9:12 remaining in the game. The run was highlighted by three-pointers by Tamara Garner, Emily Dwerlkotte and Nicole Felker.
However, the Bulldogs pulled within one following a pair of Sierra Gillespie (Chase, Kan.) treys and a pair of free throws by Brandi Florian (Russell, Kan.), 50-49, with a little less than two minutes remaining. All three baskets came off Swede turnovers. Despite the momentum, MC failed to connect on the go-ahead basket as Ozbun’s three-pointer fell short.
For the game, McPherson was led in scoring by Ozbun, who tallied 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the floor. As a team, MC ended the night shooting 28.8 percent (17-of-59) from the field, 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from beyond the arc and 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from the foul line.
Dwerlkotte paced the Swede offense with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including four three-pointers. The Swedes shot 42.2 percent (19-of-45) from the floor and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three-point range.
The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, February 17 when they host the University of Saint Mary. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
